Grandiflora rose plant named ‘WEKdocpot’

ABSTRACT

A new variety of Grandiflora rose suitable for garden decoration, having flowers of golden yellow edged and blushed with an intense ruby coloration.

Classification: The present invention relates to a new Rosa hybridaplant.

Variety denomination: The new plant has the varietal denomination‘WEKdocpot’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of GrandifloraRose. The seed parent and the pollen parent of the variety are unknown.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Among the features which distinguish the new variety from otherpresently available and commercial rose cultivars known to the inventorare the following combinations of characteristics: its unique flowercoloration of golden yellow edged and blushed with an intense rubycoloration, its stipitate glands on the edges of the grooves of therachis and its red suffusion on the inner surface of the sepals thatappears as the flower ages. The plant has an upright growing habit,suitable for outdoor garden decoration.

Asexual reproduction of the new variety by budding as performed in KernCounty and Pomona, Calif., shows that the foregoing and otherdistinguishing characteristics come true to form and are established andtransmitted through succeeding asexual propagations. ‘WEKdocpot’ may beasexually propagated by cuttings, budding and grafting. The budding andgrafting successfully occurred on the plant/rootstock Rosa hybrida cv.‘Dr. Huey’ (not patented).

COMPARISON WITH PARENTS

The seed parent and the pollen parent of the variety are unknown to theinventor. Accordingly a comparison to the parents is not possible.

COMPARISON WITH THE CLOSEST COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE CULTIVAR

The new variety may be distinguished from its closest commerciallyavailable cultivar, ‘BAIpeace’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,731) by thefollowing combination of characteristics: whereas ‘WEKdocpot’ bearsaverage size flowers (about 6.9 to about 10.0 cm. in diameter) withdouble petalage (about 27 to 35 petals), ‘BAIpeace’ bears large flowers(about 13.0 cm. in diameter) with significantly heavier petalage (about40 petals). The new variety has an upright tall growing habit (about 150to about 180 cm. in height); whereas the closest commercially availablecultivar has a significantly shorter compact and upright growing habit(about 100 to about 150 cm. in height).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATION

The accompanying photograph illustrates the new variety and shows theflowering thereof from bud to full bloom depicted in color as nearlycorrect as it is possible to make in a color illustration of thecharacter. Throughout this specification, color references and/or valuesare based upon the Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society(1966) except where common terms of color definition are employed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following description is of 3 to 4 year-old rose plants of the newvariety grown outdoors in Pomona, Calif. in the month of October.Phenotypic expression may vary with environmental, cultural and climaticconditions, as well as differences in conditions of light and soil.

BOTANICAL DESIGNATION

The new variety botanical designation is Rosa hybrida ‘WEKdocpot’.

FLOWER

The new variety usually bears its flowers singly, sometimes in clustersof two to three per stem. Flowers may be borne in regular roundedclusters on strong medium length stems (about 20 to about 48 cm.).Outdoors, the plant blooms abundantly and nearly continuously during thegrowing season. The flowers have a moderate tea fragrance.

BUD

The peduncle is about 3.1 to about 7.3 cm. in length, of average caliper(about 0.3 to about 0.4 cm. in diameter), and usually erect. It isalmost entirely smooth, with very few stipitate glands. Peduncle coloris between 146B and 143A often heavily suffused, especially on the sideexposed to the sun, with between 183A and 187B.

Before the calyx breaks, the bud is about 1.3 to about 1.8 cm. indiameter at the widest point, about 1.7 to about 2.2 cm. in length, andmoderately ovoid to somewhat pointed in shape. The surface of the budbears few foliaceous appendages usually with stout much cut foliaceousparts extending beyond the tip of the bud about ¾ or more of its length.Bud color is between 137B and 146B often heavily suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183A.

The sepals are about 1.9 to about 4.5 cm. in length and about 0.7 toabout 1.1 cm. in width at the widest point. The outer surface color ofthe sepal is between 137B and 146B often heavily suffused, especially onthe side exposed to the sun, with between 187B and 183A. The innersurface color of the sepal is near 146B broadly bordered by near 137B.After the sepals open, the inner surface color is often moderatelysuffused, especially on the area exposed to the sun, with between 187Aand 187B. The inner surface of the sepal is covered with fine woolytomentum; sepal margins are lined with few stipitate glands and numeroushairs.

The receptacle of the flower is of short length (about 0.2 to about 0.4cm.) and moderately thin in caliper (about 0.5 to about 0.7 cm. indiameter). The receptacle is moderately flat to somewhat urn-shaped inform. Its surface is very smooth with somewhat thin fleshy walls. Thereceptacle color is between 146C and 143A.

As the petals open (after the calyx breaks), the bud is about 1.9 toabout 2.3 cm. in diameter at the widest point, about 2.0 to about 2.5cm. in length, and ovoid in form. The color of the under surfaces of thenewly opened petals is between 14C and 14D often heavily blushed withbetween 53B and 53C to as dark as between 60A and 187B. There is novisible change in coloration at the point where the petal attaches. Thecolor of the upper surfaces of the newly opened petals is between 17Dand 20B often heavily blushed with between 53B and 53C to as dark asbetween 60A and 187B. There is no visible change in coloration at thepoint where the petal attaches.

BLOOM

When fully open, the bloom ranges from about 6.9 to about 10.0 cm. indiameter. Petalage is double with about 27 to 35 petals and about 4 to 9petaloids irregularly arranged. When partially open, the bloom form ismoderately globular to somewhat high centered, and the petals aresomewhat tightly spiraled to cupped with petal edges slightly reflexedoutward. When fully open, the bloom form is cupped, and the petals areloosely cupped with petal edges moderately reflexed to somewhat rolledoutward.

PETALS

The substance of the petals is moderately heavy and of medium thickness,with upper surfaces slightly satiny and under surfaces somewhat shiny tomatte. The petals are about 2.8 to about 4.2 cm. in length and about 2.3to about 4.5 cm. in width at the widest point. Petal margins are entire.

The outer petals are broadly rounded to somewhat obovate in shape withrounded apices.

The inner petals are moderately obovate in shape with rounded apices.

Petaloids are about 0.8 to about 2.2 cm. in length and about 0.3 toabout 2.3 cm. in width at the widest point. Petaloids are irregularlyshaped somewhat obovate to subulate with rounded apices.

NEWLY OPENED FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 11D and 155Boften heavily blushed with between 63B and 61C to as dark as between 60Aand 53A. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a small zone ofbetween 4B and 5C. The upper surface color of the outer petals isbetween 12D and 155B often heavily blushed with between 58B and 61C toas dark as between 60A and 53A. The blush coloration is usually moreintense on the petal edge. At the point where the petal attaches, thereis a moderately large zone of between 7C and 6C.

The under surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is between12C and 18A often moderately blushed near the petal edge with between53D and 61C. The upper surface color of the intermediate and innerpetals is between 14C and 19B often moderately blushed near the petaledge with between 53D and 61C.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the newly opened flower is between 14C and 19Boften moderately blushed near the petal edge with between 53D and 61C.

THREE-DAY-OLD FLOWER

The under surface color of the outer petals is between 11D and 155Boften heavily blushed with between 63B and 58B to as dark as between 60Aand 53A. At the point where the petal attaches, there is a small zone ofbetween 4C and 5D.

The under surface color of the intermediate and inner petals is between11D and 155B often moderately blushed near the petal edge with between63B and 58B.

The upper surface color of the outer, intermediate and inner petals isbetween 11D and 155B often heavily blushed with between 61B and 58B toas dark as between 60A and 53A. At the point where the petal attaches,there is a moderately large zone of between 8B and 10B.

The under and upper surface color of the petaloids are similar incoloration to the upper and under surfaces of the intermediate and innerpetals.

The general tonality of the three-day-old flower is between 11D and 155Boften heavily blushed with between 61B and 58B to as dark as between 60Aand 53A.

On the spent bloom, the petals usually drop off cleanly.

In October in Pomona, Calif., blooms on the bush growing outdoorsgenerally last about four to five days. Cut roses from plants grownoutdoors and kept at normal indoor living temperatures generally lastabout four to five days.

MALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens are many in number (average about 110) and are arrangedregularly about the pistils; a few are mixed with petaloids. Thefilaments are of moderately short length (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm.)most with anthers. Filaments are between 12B and 13B in color. Theanthers are of medium size for the class and all open approximately atthe same time. Anther color when immature is near 20A on the externalpart and near 13D on the internal part. Anther color at maturity is near163C on the external part and near 200B on the internal part. Pollen issparse and near 16D in color.

FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Pistils vary in number (average about 125). The styles are moderatelyuneven, somewhat long in length (about 0.4 to about 0.7 cm.), moderatelythin in caliper, and moderately separated to columnar. Stigma color isbetween 19A and 20A. Style color is between 154C and 150D oftenmoderately blushed near the top with between 53B and 53C. Ovaries areusually all enclosed in the calyx.

Hips have not been observed on this variety when grown in Pomona, Calif.

FOLIAGE

The compound leaves are usually comprised of three to five leaflets andare borne abundantly. The five-leaflet leaves are about 8.3 to about17.3 cm. in length and about 7.3 to about 14.3 cm. in width at thewidest point, moderately heavy to somewhat crisp in texture, and glossyin finish on the upper side and somewhat shiny to matte in finish on theunder side. The terminal leaflets are about 4.3 to about 7.7 cm. inlength and about 2.8 to about 6.1 cm. in width at the widest point,shaped ovate with moderately acute apices and rounded bases. Theirmargins are usually simply serrate.

The upper surface color of the mature leaf is between 137A and 141A. Theunder surface color of the mature leaf is between 147B and 146B. Theupper surface color of the young leaf is between 146B and 146A, oftenheavily suffused with between 187B and 183B. The under surface color ofthe young leaf is between 138B and 138A, often heavily suffused withbetween 187C and 183C.

The rachis is average to somewhat heavy in caliper and rough. The upperside is deeply grooved with few hairs and some stipitate glands on theedges of the grooves. The under side of the rachis is rough with fewstipitate glands and small prickles. The rachis color is near 146C onthe under side and near 146A on the upper side.

The stipules are about 1.1 to about 1.8 cm. in length and moderatelywide (about 0.6 to about 0.8 cm.) with long straight points that usuallyturn out at an angle of more than 45 degrees. The stipule color isbetween 137B and 138A.

The petiole is average to somewhat heavy in caliper and rough. The upperside is deeply grooved with few hairs and some stipitate glands on theedges of the grooves. The under side of the petiole is rough with fewstipitate glands and small prickles. The petiole is about 0.5 to about1.4 cm. in length and about 0.1 to about 0.2 cm in diameter at thewidest point. The petiole color is near 146C on the under side and near146A on the upper side.

The plant displays an average degree of resistance to powdery mildew andrust as compared to other commercial varieties grown under comparableconditions in Pomona, Calif. The plant's winter hardiness anddrought/heat tolerance are yet to be determined.

GROWTH

The plant has an upright tall growing habit (about 150 to about 180 cm.in height and about 56 to about 66 cm. spread at the widest point), withfull branching. It displays vigorous growth and the canes are of mediumcaliper for the class (about 1.2 to about 2.1 cm. in width at the widestpoint).

The color of the major stems is between 147B and 146B. They bear manylarge prickles that are about 0.8 to about 1.2 cm. in length. The largeprickles are angled slightly downward with a moderately long broad ovalbase; prickle color is between 166D and 164A. The major stem bears fewsmall prickles of similar shape and coloration.

The color of the branches is between 146B and 146A. They bear some largeprickles which are of similar shape to the large prickles on the majorstems. Prickles are about 0.6 to about 0.8 cm. in length. Prickle coloris between 166D and 164A. The branches bear some small prickles ofsimilar shape and coloration.

The color of the new shoots is between 146B and 146C sometimesmoderately suffused with between 183A and 187B. They bear some largeprickles which are of similar size and shape to the large prickles onthe branches. Prickle color is between 153A and 152D often heavilysuffused with between 187C and 185A. The shoots bear some small pricklesof similar shape and coloration.

1. A new and distinct Grandiflora rose plant of the varietysubstantially as described and illustrated herein.